There are times when agents might recommend staging your home. At first, this might seem like a sales tactic. Why would they suggest investing money in a property you’re planning to leave? The answer is surprisingly simple: statistically, staged homes tend to fetch higher prices.
According to the 2023 report by the National Association of REALTORS®, 20% of buyer agents said that home staging helps in offering 1-5% higher amounts for similar non-staged homes in the market. So, if the increase in the home's price outweighs the staging cost, it's a profitable investment. But how much does home staging actually cost?
How much does home staging cost?
Naturally, if the staged home is more expensive, the cost of home staging will be higher. Typically, the average cost for most stagers is between $300 to $600 for the initial design consultation, and $500 to $600 per room per month for staging.
Therefore, staging a 2,000 square foot home with four main areas (not four bedrooms, but four main spaces like the kitchen, living room, etc.) would cost around $2,000 to $2,400 monthly. Most professional home stagers require a minimum staging contract of three months. Even if the house sells within 24 hours, the minimum staging contract remains unchanged, meaning the final staging cost could be around $7,200.
This might seem quite expensive at first. However, if you own a vacant home that has been incurring costs for several months, home staging could be the best investment you've made so far.
What additional costs can arise in home staging?
Most home stagers use existing accessories and artwork. However, sometimes new accessories, clean towels, flowers, and/or fruit may need to be purchased, and these small additions can make a significant difference. In the case of a vacant home, new purchases will add to the total cost.
The layout of the home can also affect staging costs. Home stagers typically use lightweight furniture, but in multi-story homes, assistance might be needed to move heavier items.
Additionally, if you have already moved out and are listing an empty home, rental fees for all staged furniture and decorations will add to the costs. Finally, painting a room can be a crucial expense to ensure staging success. Repainting a 12x12 foot room can cost around $200 for DIYers and $400 to $700 for professionals.
Cost-saving tips: How to reduce home staging expenses
You don’t need to pay a home stager to redecorate the entire house from the basement laundry room to the attic storage space.
A great way to save money on home staging is to focus only on the main areas of the home. These are the spaces where potential buyers will spend most of their time, typically the kitchen, living room, dining room, and master bedroom. It’s also important to consider what buyers see when they first step through the front door. As always, focusing on spaces that create the best first impressions can help reduce costs.
Another cost-saving option is to have only an initial consultation with a home stager instead of full-service staging. This can significantly lower the price, typically around $125 for 90 minutes.
Lastly, it may be beneficial to ask your real estate agent whether home staging would be advantageous. Based on their experience showing properties to buyers, they can provide other cost-saving tips and might recommend either staging or other methods, such as decluttering or investing in specific home improvements. For instance, instead of hiring a professional stager, the agent might suggest organizing the home yourself or investing in particular improvements to enhance the home’s first impression.
We hope to bring you more helpful articles in the future.
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